The 2-in-1 convertible laptop is no longer regarded as a high-end piece of hardware by default. The same way that you can buy affordable vintage clamshells, you can find affordable ones. How about the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i? Its lightweight 3.31-pound design makes it simple to swiftly convert between touch-tablet and standard laptop modes. A snappy 14-inch touch display and improved, more durable hinges go hand in hand with the lightweight design. 14 inches is a popular screen size for convertibles. This is a good, if not outstanding, choice among popularly priced 2-in-1s, despite several shortcomings, particularly the panel brightness and the battery life.
The 2021 model’s port options are not changed. This is one of the few affordable convertibles that supports Thunderbolt 4, as some rival models, including the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 2-in-1, do not. You should connect any external 4K displays at 60 Hz via USB-C DP instead of the HDMI connector, which can only handle 1.4a of power. We would want to see future models replace the unique barrel AC adapter port with two USB-C ports.
The integrated card reader’s transfer rates are respectable for the price. Our UHS-II test card transfers 1 GB of images to the desktop in around 13 seconds. This CPU’s maximum turbo frequency is 4.4GHz at 55w, and it has a total of 12 threads. There is no room for expansion because Lenovo soldered the 16GB of DDR4 to this platform, however it does operate at a speed of 3200MHz. A 15.6″ 1080p IPS display with touchscreen compatibility and 512GB of Gen4 SSD storage are further features. Along with HDMI and audio outputs, the expansion features a single Thunderbolt port. A USB 3.2 port and an SD card reader are also included.
The touchpad is likewise fantastic, having a good size and a comfortable and slick surface. All of the Windows 10 multitouch gestures may be used, and they all functioned perfectly, thanks to the Microsoft Precision Touchpad drivers. No complaints from me. With upward-firing speakers flanking the keyboard on each side, the audio was better. Although the bass was weak, the volume was more than satisfactory, and the mids and highs were audible. With these speakers, you can stream Netflix and listen to music, which is better than other low-cost devices.
With the Core i5 processor, the 14-inch Full HD display, and the IdeaPad Flex 5i’s 52.5 watt-hour battery, I was unsure of the IdeaPad Flex 5i’s expected battery life. The AMD model’s battery life was just fair; if you weren’t too rough on it, you might be able to get a full day’s worth of use out of it.